With the Belmont Racing Festival at Saratoga now concluded, it’s time to turn our attention to Saratoga’s traditional Summer Race Meet (July/August/September) which begins Thursday, July 11. Racing will take place Wednesday through Sunday during the eight week Meet which concludes on Labor Day, September 2.
The Saratoga Summer Race Meet will offer 71 stakes races with total purses of $20.75 million. We (Woodford Racing et al) have several horses we intend to point to various stakes races which will make for a fun Summer.
In addition to the stakes races being offered, the Saratoga Summer Meet is known for its 2 year old races. The “baby races” provide a wonderful opportunity to see the unveiling of thoroughbred racing’s next generation of stars! We (Woodford Racing) have partnered with several owners (Belladonna, West Point Thoroughbreds, Chuck Sonsone, Team D (Dutrow), Mike Repole, etc.) on twenty six 2 year old colts and fillies. While all of them will not start their careers in 2024, many will and some will run at Saratoga this Summer.
All of the 2 year olds Wintered in Ocala, Florida at various farms learning how to become racehorses. Since departing Ocala in April and May they have been placed with their respective trainers based in New York or Kentucky. The lineup of trainers includes Hall of Famer’s Shug McGaughey, Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen as well as Cherie Devaux (former Assistant Trainer with Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown) and Tony Dutrow.
At this time, twenty of the twenty six have been named. Here’s the Freshmen Class of 2024:
Fillies (Sire – Mare) Named
Ahavah (City of Light – Holiday Soiree)
As You Wish (Volatile – Splashy Kisses)
Bewitching (McClean’s Music – Lady Luck)
Kismet (Quality Road – Momentary Magic)
Love and Poetry (Hard Spun – Grace and Dignity)
Mezcal Mule (Army Mule – Mezcalita)
Panache (Not This Time – Mojo Mama)
Rare Art (Munnings – Adjudication)
Sailaway (Omaha Beach – Cry Hallelujah)
Timekeeper (Not This Time – Gale)
Filly (Sire – Mare) Not Yet Named)
Street Sense – Asiya
Colts (Sire – Mare) Named
Ambitiously (Collected – Leeway)
Black Sails (Ghostzapper – Desert Isle)
Cromwell (Quality Road – Borealis Night)
Profound (Twirling Candy – Flush)
Retribution (Vekoma – Granny’s Drink)
Sansone (Uncle Mo – Diva Delite)
States’ Rights (Constitution – Ellyb)
Statesman (Constitution- Icon Project)
Vermelho (Constitution- Ruby Lips)
Will To Prepare (Game Winner – Hessie’s Girl)
Windtalker (Violence – America’s Surprise)
Colts (Sire – Mare) Not Yet Named)
Candy Ride (Sire) – Magic Star (Mare)
Into Mischief (Sire) – Nonna Mia (Mare)
Quality Road (Sire) – March X Press (Mare)
Tapit (Sire) – River Maid (Mare)
Quality Road – March X Press colt
Our first two 2 year old starters will be States’ Rights on Thursday, June 20 at Churchill Downs (Race 5) and Panache on Friday, June 21 at Churchill Downs (Race 4).
Best of luck to the Freshmen Class of 2024 as they begin their racing careers!